Achieving School Readiness Summer Activity Packet

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Achieving School ReadinessSummer Activity
Packet
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"The investments we make in the first few years
of a child's life will have a significant impact
on how their future unfolds. We owe it to our
children to help them get a jump-start in life.
Governor Parris N. Glendening The Achieving
School Readiness in Maryland Project links the
first three teachers of young children to promote
learning readiness. The Ready At Five
Partnership currently works with 22 elementary
school communities to improve the quality and
continuity of early care and education for
children birth to five. Local Achieving School
Readiness Advisory Councils link--parents, early
care and education teachers, elementary school
staff and community stakeholders--together to
establish on-going communication promote smooth
transitions for young children exiting preschool
programs and entering elementary schools align
learning expectations, curriculum and classroom
environments and create joint professional
development opportunities. One of the projects
created through Achieving School Readiness is
this Summer Activities Packet. It is hoped this
packet of activities will be distributed to
parents with young children who will use it with
their children to create fun learning experiences
during the summer. Enjoy your children.. Enjoy
the Summer. Continue to be involved with your
children's education. You are their first and
best teacher! Ready At Five wishes to thank the
following staff from the Prince George's County
Schools who developed this rich packet of fun
summer activities. Jennifer Buczek Bradbury He
ights Elementary School Camila Connolly Bradbury
Heights Elementary School Junne Rose Barnaby
Manor Elementary School Kanika Rivers-Spann Bra
dbury Heights Elementary School
JoEllen Thompson Beacon Heights Elementary
School Alice Dantley Bradbury Heights Elementar
y School, Parent Editor Fall 2001
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• Dear Parents,
• A group of teachers have gotten together to
  create this calendar of summer activities. It is
  meant to help your preschooler be ready for
  kindergarten. To do this, an adult needs to
  interact with the child for a short time
  everyday. All of the activities are meant to be
  easy and practical, so have FUN and RELAX!! The
  worst thing you can do is to make learning a
  chore. If you are having fun then your child will
  have fun also.
• Remember this is a sample of activities. It is
  not necessarily the only things you can do. It
  is important to read to your child everyday. Try
  to get to the library once a week. Have your
  child write his/her name on every paper they do.
  Point out letters or sounds as you drive to the
  store or child care. Whatever you do, no matter
  how small it seems, will help your preschooler.
• The activities and schedule were made to be
  somewhat flexible. Feel free to modify an
  activity if it appears to be too difficult or too
  easy for your child. If you know you dont have
  a lot of time one day, switch that nights
  activity for another easier or quicker one later
  in the week. Please be aware, each week has a
  theme. If you are going to change an activity,
  try to switch it with another in the same theme.
  It will be easier for the child.
• Lastly, to make it easier for the adult, we have
  included almost everything you need to know.
  After each activity, there will be some symbols.
  One symbol will tell you where to go in the
  packet to get more information or help.
• These symbols
• - Dollar store shopping item
• - Theme information page
• - Song book
• - Recipe book
• The other symbols will tell you the purpose of
  the activity. (Or what area the child is
  developing with that activity). The next page
  will give you a brief description of the
  different areas of growth.

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The Different Learning Domains

• Art
• The art domain involves dance, drama, music and
  art. Children can express their personality or
  creativity in a positive way using this domain.
  Your child will be using all areas in
  kindergarten so make him/her comfortable by using
  them now. Allow him/her to listen to different
  kinds of music, draw or color using different
  materials like chalk, paint, crayons, and colored
  pencils, use puppets and play make-believe.
  Dont be afraid to enter your childs world and
  pretend, dance, and color right along with
  him/her.
• Social/Emotional
• The social/emotional domain is about how a child
  gets along with others and handles or expresses
  emotions. Trust, self-esteem, and self-control
  are all important parts of this area of growth.
  For your child to do well in school, he/she
  should be able to apologize, solve problems, try
  different things, accept responsibility for the
  good and bad things he/she does, and not give up
  too quickly. Eventually, these will help your
  child make and keep friends.
• Physical
• The physical domain is about moving and
  controlling muscles. It has 2 parts moving main
  or big muscles and moving smaller muscles. The
  smaller muscle movement is called fine motor and
  large muscle movement is called gross motor.

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The Different Learning Domains contd
Fine Motor Fingers, toes, hands and feet are t
he smaller muscle groups that make up fine motor
growth. In order for the smaller muscles to
develop, the large muscles must already be in
place. So, fine motor growth is usually just
beginning at the preschooler age. This muscle
development is important in everything a child
does from holding a pencil and writing to eating
and opening doors. Finger plays, play dough and
puzzles will all help this area of growth. Until
these muscles develop, things like holding a
pencil or writing will be difficult or
impossible. Gross Motor Gross motor is larg
er muscle groups like arms and legs. Gross motor
development will start at birth and is
responsible for things like walking, sitting,
running and throwing. Since gross motor growth is
the building block for fine motor growth, it is
important to keep it strong. Riding tricycles,
balancing, climbing jungle gyms, swinging and
playing ball will keep this area strong.
Language/Literacy Language and literacy grow
th involves expressing oral and written thoughts.
Have conversations with your child and use
complete sentences and proper English as mush as
possible. Increase your childs vocabulary by
going to as many different kinds of places as
possible (zoo, beach, museum, grocery store,
hospital, school, etc.). Eventually, this area is
responsible for reading. Knowing letters and
sounds is important however knowing how to open
and hold a book, knowing the difference between
letters, words and pictures, and predicting and
making up stories to go with pictures are also
meaningful. The most important part of this area
of growth is the opportunity to use books. Go to
the library, have books around the house and read
everyday.
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The Different Learning Domains contd
Math The math domain is about numbers and re
lationships. It is not only counting and knowing
numbers but about sorting, shapes, patterns and
colors. It uses relationship words like over,
under, next to, left/right, more, less and equal.
Use these kinds of words while youre doing
household chores like laundry and cooking. It is
an easy time to work with this area of a childs
growth. Science The science domain involves
wondering about things, asking questions,
investigating to find answers and collecting
information. Using senses (seeing, hearing,
tasting, smelling and touching) to collect
information is important. Remember to have your
childs sight and hearing checked so they can use
these senses as easily as the others. Use charts
or drawings to show how to organize or group
things. Be sure to explain why or how something
happens and if you dont know, show your child
how to find the answers. Social Studies Soc
ial studies is the study of people and how they
live (long ago, today and in the future). It
involves jobs, transportation, housing,
inventions and events. It is about how people are
affected by their surroundings. Let your child
talk about him/herself. Talk about family and how
the people in the childs life are related. Your
child should know about the neighborhood (places
and people). Take him/her for walks and talk
about what you see or where you go. The more
places you take your child and the more things
you see, the bigger your childs world will be.

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Water Information PageWeek 1

• DAY 1
• What to do in water? Why do we like it?
• Play in it, swim in it, use it to cool off, clean
  with it, drink it, water the flowers and plants.
  
• Why dont we like water?
• Storms, floods, drowning, scares people
• DAY 2
• Possible Water Scenes
• The beach, the pool, water animals, fish or
  fishing scenes, water sports swimming, skiing
  
• DAY 5
• Animals that live in the water
• Fish, turtle, seal, seahorse, shark (others
  alligators, whale, starfish, frog)
  

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Water Information Page Week 2

• DAY 1
• Containers to Use
• Paper cup, measuring cup, bowl, mixing bowl,
  pitcher, glass, vase
  
• DAY 2
• Things that Float
• Bottle cap, rubberbands, plastic spoon, cotton
  ball, wooden spoon, pencil
  
• Things That Dont Float
• Penny, soap, pasta, cotton ball, metal spoon,
  rock
  
• DAY 3
• Things That Move In or On Water
• People, boats, fish, bugs, lily pads, water skis,
  ducks, swans, seagulls
  
• DAY 5
• Things To Wear On a Rainy Day
• Raincoat, goulashes, umbrella, hat
• DAY 6

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Patriotism Information Page Week 3
DAY 1 The American Flag Colors Red, white and
blue DAY 2 Words that Rhyme with Flag Bag,
brag, drag, gag, hag, lag, nag, rag, sag, tag,
wag, zag DAY 3 Places to See The American Fla
g Gas stations, fast-food restaurants, post offi
ce, government offices, homes, schools
Other kinds of Flags you might See
Company flags, state flags, another countrys
flag
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Patriotism Information Page Week 4
DAY 6 Fire Safety Rules Stop, drop and roll C
rawl, dont walk or stand I know my address and p
hone number Dont go back inside a fire Call 911
for help
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Nature and Bugs Information Page Week 5
DAY 1 Possible Bugs to Collect Cockroaches, fl
ies, fireflies, butterflies, caterpillars, ants,
grasshoppers, praying mantises, moth, beetles
DAY 7 Words That Rhyme With Bug Chug, dug, d
rug, hug, jug, lug, mug, plug, run, shrug, tug

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Nature and Bugs Information Page Week 6

• DAY 2
• The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle is at
  all libraries and book stores.
  
• Library website www.PRGE.Lib.MD.US
• Book store names Barnes Nobles, Super Crown ,
  Waldenbooks, B. Dalton Books, Borders
  
• DAY 3
• Possible Patterns
• Yellow, green, yellow, green
• Stripped, dotted, striped, dotted
• Colored, not colored, colored, not colored
• DAY 4
• Households Items to Measure
• Wooden spoon, pencil, child and adult size shoe,
  car key, cup, pan, book, a favorite toy
  
• DAY 5
• Smithsonian Information
• Museum of Natural History Cost free
• Constitution Avenue NW Hours Summer 9-5
  everyday
  

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Getting Ready for School Information Page

Week 7
DAY 2 Sample Stores to Buy Your School Supplies
Kmart, Walmart, Target, Eckerds, Ames, CVS, Doll
ar Store Sample Supply List (This is only a sa
mple each school has their own list).
1 box of 8 large crayons 2 primary pencils
2 black and white composition notebooks fiscar
scissors Blanket or towel extra set of clothes
Bottle of hand sanitizer 2 glue sticks Box of
kleenex DAY 4 Letter Writing Guide is Include
d Please follow the arrows when writing with the
child.
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Getting Ready for School Information Page

Week 8
DAY 2 and 3 Basic Colors Red, orange, yell
ow, green, blue, purple, brown, black, white,
pink DAY 4 Simon Says School Behaviors Sit
quietly with legs crossed shut the door quietly
Hold a pencil correctly raise a hand and speak
Put the school supplies away stand in a line
Push in the chair DAY 5 Book List A recomme
nded book list is included. Go to your local lib
rary and apply for a library card.
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Music Book
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Ladybug! Ladybug!
Ladybug! Ladybug! Fly away home. Your hou
se is on fire And your children all gone. All ex
cept one, And thats little Ann, For she has cre
pt under The frying pan.
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Its Raining, Its Pouring..
Its raining, its pouring. The old man is
snoring He went to bed and he bumped his head
.
And he couldnt wake up in the morning.
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America The Beautiful
O beautiful for spacious skies, For amber w
aves of grain, For purple mountain majesties Abo
ve the fruited plain! America! America! God sh
ed his grace on thee, And crown thy good with bro
therhood For sea to shining sea! O beautiful f
or patriot dream That sees beyond the years Thin
e alabaster cities gleam Undimmed by human tears!
America! America! God shed his grace on thee,
And crown thy good with brotherhood From sea to
shining sea!
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The Star Spangled Banner
Oh! Say can you see, By the dawns early light,
What so proudly we hailed At the twilights last
gleaming? Whose broad stripes and bright stars,
Through the perilous fight, Oer the ramparts w
e watched Were so gallantly streaming? And the
rockets red glare, The bombs bursting in air, G
ave proof through the night that our flag was sti
ll there. Oh! Say does that star-spangled bann
er yet wave Oer the land of the free and the ho
me of the brave?
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Yankee Doddle
Yankee Doodle came to town, A-riding on a pony
He stuck a feather in his hat And called it macar
oni. Yankee Doodle keep it up, Yankee Doodle D
andy Mind the music and the steps And with the
girls be handy. Father and I went down to camp,
Along with Capn Goodwin The men and boys all
stood around As thick as hasty puddin. Yankee
Doodle keep it up, Yankee Doodle Dandy Mind th
e music and the steps And with the girls be handy
.
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Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star
Twinkle, twinkle little star, how I wonder w
hat you are? Up above the world so high li
ke a diamond in the sky. When the blazing sun i
s gone, when he nothing shines upon, then yo
u show your little light, twinkle, twinkle all t
he night. Then the traveler in the dark, than
ks you for your tiny spark, he could not see whi
ch way to go if you did not twinkle so. In th
e dark blue sky you keep, and often through my c
urtains peep, for you never shut your eye, til
l the sun is in the sky. As your bright and tin
y spark lights the traveler in the dark, thoug
h I know not what you are twinkle, twinkle littl
e star.
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The Ants Go Marching
The ants go marching one by one, hurrah, hurrah
The ants go marching one by one, hurrah, hurrah
The ants go marching one by one,
The little one stops to suck his thumb
And they all go marching down to the ground
To get out of the rain, BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
The ants go marching two by two, hurrah, hurrah
The ants go marching two by two, hurrah,
hurrah The ants go marching two by two, The litt
le one stops to tie his shoe And they all go marc
hing down to the ground To get out of the rain, B
OOM! BOOM! BOOM! The ants go marching three by
three, hurrah, hurrah The ants go marching three
by three, hurrah, hurrah The ants go marching thr
ee by three The little one stops to climb a tree
And they all go marching down to the ground To
get out of the rain, BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
The ants go marching four by four, hurrah, hurra
h The ants go marching four by four, hurrah, hurr
ah The ants go marching four by four The little
one stops to shut the door And they all go marchi
ng down to the ground To get out of the rain, BOO
M! BOOM! BOOM! The ants go marching five by fiv
e, hurrah, hurrah The ants go marching five by fi
ve, hurrah, hurrah The ants go marching five by f
ive The little one stops to take a dive And they
all go marching down to the ground
To get out of the rain, BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
The ants go marching six by six, hurrah, hurrah
The ants go marching six by six, hurrah, hurrah
The ants go marching six by six,
The little one stops to pick up sticks
And they all go marching down to the ground
To get out of the rain, BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
The ants go marching seven by seven, hurrah, hur
rah The ants go marching seven by seven, hurrah,
hurrah The ants go marching seven by seven, The
little one stops to pray to heaven
And they all go marching down to the ground
To get out of the rain, BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
The ants go marching eight by eight, hurrah, hur
rah The ants go marching eight by eight, hurrah,
hurrah The ants go marching eight by eight The l
ittle one stops to shut the gate
And they all go marching down to the ground
To get out of the rain, BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
The ants go marching nine by nine, hurrah, hurra
h The ants go marching nine by nine, hurrah, hurr
ah The ants go marching nine by nine The little
one stops to check the time And they all go march
ing down to the ground To get out of the rain, BO
OM! BOOM! BOOM! The ants go marching ten by ten
, hurrah, hurrah The ants go marching ten by ten,
hurrah, hurrah The ants go marching ten by ten
The little one stops to say THE END
And they all go marching down to the ground
To get out of the rain, BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
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The Alphabet Song
A B- C D E F G H I J K L M
N O P Q R S T U and V, W X
Y and Z Now I know my A B Cs Next time
wont you sing with me?
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The Hokey Pokey

• You put your right foot in,
• You put your right foot out
• You put your right foot in,
• And you shake it all about.
• You do the Hokey-Pokey,
• And you turn yourself around.
• Thats what its all about!
• You put your left foot in,
• You put your left foot out
• You put your left foot in,
• And you shake it all about.
• You do the Hokey-Pokey,
• And you turn yourself around.

You put your right hand in, You put your right h
and out You put your right hand in, And you sh
ake it all about. You do the Hokey-Pokey, A
nd you turn yourself around. Thats what its all
about! You put your left hand in, You put
your left hand out You put your left hand in,
And you shake it all about. You do the Hokey-Po
key, And you turn yourself around. Thats wha
t its all about!
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Recipe Book
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KOOL-AID Empty contents into large plastic or
glass pitcher. Add 1 cup sugar (more or less to
taste). Add cold water and ice to make 2 quarts
stir to dissolve. Do not store in metal
container. PLAY DOUGH Measure into large b
owl 3 cups flour ½ cup salt ¼ vegetable oil
In a 2 cup glass measuring cup, put (in this
order) Food coloring of desired intensity Boi
ling water to equal 2 cups liquid total
Add to liquid to flour mixture. Stir well with a
heavy spoon until entire batch is thoroughly
blended. Dough will be quite moist but do not
add more flour. As is sets overnight the
moisture is absorbed by the flour ad the next day
the play dough is just right. Store is an
airtight container. Knead well just before it is
first used.
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• SAND DOLLARS
• ¼ cup plain yogurt
• ½ teaspoon almond extract
• 1 cup ground pecans
• ½ pound shredded coconut
• 2 ripe bananas, peeled and cut into ¼ inch thick
  rounds
  
• In a bowl, combined yogurt and almond extract.
  Set aside.
  
• Place ground pecans and coconut in separate
  bowls.
  
• Spear a banana slice with a fork and dip the
  round into the yogurt mixture. Dip next into
  either pecans or coconut.
  
• Place a cookie sheet and remove fork. Repeat
  until all slices have been covered.
  
• Cover cookie sheet with plastic wrap. Place in
  freezer for at least 15 minutes. Serve
  immediately or transfer to plastic bags and store
  in freezer.
• HIGH SEAS SLUSH
• 1 10-ounce package frozen raspberries, slightly
  thawed
  

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• ANTS ON A LOG
• 1 stalk of celery for each child
• Raisins
• Peanut Butter
• Spread a stalk of celery with peanut butter.
  Cover with raisins.
  
• CATERPILLAR CUCUMBER
• Shredded lettuce
• 1 cucumber
• Any selection of vegetables, such as carrot
  slices, celery slices and leaves, parsley,
  radishes
  
• Utensils
• Plate Knife and cutting board 2 wooden spoons
  toothpicks
  
• Place the shredded lettuce on the plate. Set
  aside.
  

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• SPIDER SANDWICHES
• (makes 2)
• 4 slices wheat sandwich bread
• Any sandwich spread, such as peanut butter, tuna
  salad, soft cheese
  
• Cheese curls or pretzel sticks
• 4 raisins
• Utensils
• Cookie cutter, 2 ½ inch round
• Plain paper plates
• Black permanent marker
• Place the bread slices on the work surface. Cut a
  circle from each bread slice with the cookie
  cutter.
  
• Divide the bread circles into two equal piles.
• Spread about 2 tablespoons of sandwich spread on
  all of the bread circles in one pile.
  
• Press eight cheese curls or pretzel sticks in the
  sandwich spread half way around each circle to
  make the legs of the spider.
  
• Place the remaining bread circle on top of the
  sandwich spread coated circles.
  

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Attachments
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Read To Me
For 5 and 6 Years Olds Agee INCREDIBLE PAINTI
NGS OF FELIX CLOUSSEAU Allard MISS NELSON IS MI
SSING Bannerman STORY OF LITTLE BABJI Barrett
ANIMALS SHOULD DEFINITELY NOT WEAR CLOTHING
Brett MITTEN Briggs JIM AND THE BEANSTALK Ca
nnon STELLALUNA Christelow HENRY AND THE RED
STRIPES Crowe CLYDE MONSTER Demi EMPTY POT
Galdone GINGERBREAD BOY Galdone LITTLE GIRL A
ND THE BIG BEAR Galdone THREE BILLY GOATS GRUFF
Hoffman AMAZING GRACE Hutchins ONE-EYED JAK
E Kent WIZARD OF WALLABY WALLOW Karas SAVING
SWEETNESS King-Smith FARMER BUNGLE FORGETS Ko
ide MAY WE SLEEP HERE TONIGHT?
Lester SAM AND THE TIGERS Lindgren WILD BABY
Lionni FREDERICK Lobel STRAW
MAID McGovern TOO MUCH NOISE Mosel TIKKI TIK
KI TEMBO Moss ZIN ZIN ZIN A VIOLIN Noble THE
DAY JIMMYS BOA ATE THE WASH Piper LITTLE ENGI
NE THAT COULD Rathman OFFICER BUCKLE AND GLORIA
Steig DR. DE SOTO Tolhurst SOMEBODY AND THE
THREE BLAIRS Tresselt THE MITTEN Ungerer CR
ICTOR Ungerer RUFUS Ungerer THREE ROBBERS V
anAllsburg JUMANJI Viorst ALEXANDER THE TER
RIBLE, HORRIBLE, NO GOOD Waber IRA SLEEPS OVE
R
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Everyone Needs Praise Parents, try these
different ways of telling your child you are
pleased with his/her efforts and proud of his/her
work. Thats really nice. Thank you for wor
king so hard. Wow! Tell me more about this.
I like the way you did this. Good answer. Im
impressed! Keep up the good work. Good for yo
u! Much better. Now youve got the idea. G
ood job. Exactly right. Congratulations. S
uper work. Terrific. Nice going. Look at
how youve improved. Lets save this one to put
up on the frig. Your work looks better every da
y. Lets put a star on this paper.
These good papers call for a treat. Beautiful h
andwriting.
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Caterpillar Measuring Stick